PELLA, (11/03/2014)(readMedia)-- If you were to ask Melissa Ketcham '15 what she's thinking about during a lecture, she might respond, "Video games." While this may not be a relevant subject for most academic departments, Ketcham's computer science major has provided her with the tools to turn her childhood love of video games into a potential career.
Ketcham, a senior from Muscatine, Iowa, discovered her love for computer science during her freshman year. "I had never heard of the field until I came to Central," said Ketcham. "My advisor, Dr. Fyfe, a professor of computer science, had me take his introductory class because it was required for my math major. I absolutely loved it."
Ketcham's appreciation for computer science didn't stop there. She said all of Central's computer science professors challenged her and helped her develop a passion for the field.
As a female in a male-dominated field, Ketcham's story isn't typical. According to a National Science Foundation report published in 2012, only 18.2% of college students in the computer science field are female.
"Being a woman in a man's field is always mentioned," said Ketcham. "At Central, I haven't really faced any problems with it, but there are studies and articles all of the time about the need for women in computer science."
In her senior year, Ketcham said her computer science professors continue to challenge her. "You can tell they care about what they are teaching," said Ketcham, "and they also know what they're talking about. The professors have had a huge influence on me."
With her professors' encouragement, Ketcham decided to participate in a computer science Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) this past summer through the National Science Foundation. Similar to internships, REUs allow students from smaller colleges to go to bigger schools over the summer to get research experience in a field of their choice. "I knew that I wanted to see whether or not I wanted to go to grad school, and doing the research would be a great way to do that," said Ketcham.
Ketcham completed her REU at North Carolina State University. There, she created computer programs for the university, such as an online tool professors can use to grade assignments. Her biggest project involved working with one of her favorite things: video games. By using Minecraft, a popular video game, Ketcham and other researchers wanted to teach middle school students how to code.
After her summer research experience, Ketcham said she hopes to work in software design for a small company after graduating from Central. This involves creating the programs and tools designers use to create video games.
"Part of me has always wanted to work on video games," said Ketcham. "It was a childhood dream, and I'm finally in a field where it's applicable."
Central College is a residential liberal arts college dedicated to the education of 1,500 undergraduate students. Founded in 1853, the college is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and NCAA Division III athletics. Central is a recognized leader in study abroad as a result of its international, residential programs. The college is located in Pella, Iowa, a thriving community of 10,000 two minutes from the state's largest lake and 40 minutes southeast of Des Moines. Learn more at www.central.edu
